Fracture reduction apparatus



March 3, 1936. J. J. ETTINGER FRACTURE REDUCTION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1936. J. J. ETTINGER FRACTURE REDUCTION APPARATUS 2 sheets-sneak 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1955 nnnnnm Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE FR-ACTURE REDUCTION APPARATUS "Joe I. 'Ettinger, 'Warsaw, Ind.

Application January 28, 19.35, Serial .No. 3;842

'17 Claims.

This inventionrelates to surgical apparatus and hasspecial reference to a a fracture reduction apparatus, whereby skeletal traction maybe 'obtain'ed between the broken'parts of a long bone such as, for instance, one of the -lower l'eg bones.

One important object of itliis invention is to provide an improved device .of' this :kind whereby adjustment maybe made for the desired -distances between the pins or wires extending through the broken bone.

A second important object of :theinventionis to provide novel means .for supporting .the :pins and-wires used in vconnection with the :invention.

:third important object of the invention is to provide novel means for moving such pins and wires apart after they have beenapplied tothe bone and secured in the apparatus.

:A fourth important'object of theiinvention is the provision of novel means *whereby to adjust the'height'of one of such pins or 'wiresrelative it'o theother.

.Anfth important object 'of the invention is ito provide novel means whereby such :pins :or "wires may be independently adjustedat tdesire'd angles to the horizontal and'thus'to 'eachrother.

A 'sixth 'importantobject' of ithefinventionus to provide novel means whereby lSllQhf-PillSTOI twires may 'be swingingly adjustedto desired angular positions'around vertical axes.

With the above and other-objects inwiewaswill be hereinafter apparent, the invention consistssin general of certain"novel details'of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter ifully -clescribed, illustrated in the accompanying "draw- -{is lugs and specifically claimed.

' In the accompanying .drawingsrlike'zcharacters of reference indicate like parts in *the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of ithe'c'omplete apparatus.

Figure 2 is'a section taken longitudinally of a base units central vertical plane.

Figure 3 is -a section onthe line 3-4 of Figure2.

Figure 4-is'a longitudinalsection through:a,1telescopic tube forming :part of the :invention.

Figure =5 is a vertical section throughthe leg of=a yoke used herein.

Figure 6 is :a detail section :on the line 6=6 "of Figure '5.

Figure? is a longitudinal section through ta :pin and wire supporting sleeve used herewith.

In the embodiment of the :invention herein shown there is provided a pair :of :hollow :base

6 6 inem'bers lfl' supporrtedzonlegs ll. fIo oneofithese base'i'm'embers' is secured the section I 2 COT: aztle- :scopic tube consisting of "sections l2 and I3. This 'tubeispreferabIy rectangular in cross section-and fthe section I 2 projects :from :aside of "a base IB adjacent .the end thereof :while the section 13 5 passes slidably through the correspondingipartidf therremaining base 10, the base being heldzinad- ,justed positionon the tube I3 by ;a suitable set screw (not shown) Extending verti'cally'of each base I'D rat the centerithereof is a shaft l5 whereon is mounted a 'yoke'consistingo'f across member I 6 having aleg :-blocks 20, the mounting being such as to permit the clamp'blocksill to rotate to desired angular positions about horizontal axes, Each of these clamp blocks is provided with a 'verticalslot'zl extending downwardly from its upper side to receivea wire and pin supporting sleeve 22 which is .heldin adjusted positions in the slots by :a' set screw-23. A set screw-24 serves to hold the tele- 30 scopic section I 2 in engagement with its base 10.

Projectingrfromthe lower part of one yoke-and away'irom'the-other yoke is a pair of L-shaped brackets 26 connected at their upper ends by a downwardly curved cross member 21 provided 35 with-an arcuate slot 28 through which extendsa pair of clamping screws 29 carrying at their-inner ends a foot board 30. By loosening the screws29 .the foot board may be swung in a vertical plane extending parallel to the yoke and, 240 when in desired position, may be securely clamped in "swung position.

.The means for swinging the yokes about their axes is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As'there shown there is fixed on the lower end of the'shaft [5 a .45 lever 31 having'a yoke'32 the arms of which are provided with slots 33. Pins 34 projectingfrom a nut '35 "extend into these slots so that "the nut ispermitte d to move longitudinallyof the lever 3| as the latter swings and also to assume diifer- 50 ent angular positions relative to said "lever. A screw 36 'is screwed through'this nut and is "journaled'in the sides of-the base 0, the screw being provided "with collars 31 to prevent its long'itudinal'movement. One en'cl bf the screwt'li projects from the base in and is provided with rotating means such as the crank 38. Thus by rotating the screw the lever 3|, and consequently the yoke, is swung to desired position, both yoke and lever being fixed on the shaft.

Fig. 4 shows the manner of adjusting the telescopic members i2 and I3 relative to each other. From this Fig. 4 it will be seen that the member I2 has the end which projects into the member l3 closed at 39 except for a threaded opening 40 wherethrough is threaded a screw 4| which has a reduced end 62 which projects through an opening in the closed end 43 of the member IS, the

Similarly each member I8 is slid, as shown in Fig. 5, up and down in its leg IT, a tube 45 being held in the leg I? by a pin 46 and having an internally threaded neck 51 wherein is threaded a screw 48 having a reduced upper end which passes through an opening in the'otherwise closed upper end of the member [8, the projecting end of 48 having a crank provided head 49 fixed thereon.

From Fig. 6 it will be seen that the clamp 20 is pivotally mounted on the head 19 by a pin 50.

In Fig. '7 is shown the detail construction of the sleeves 22 and will be seen that one end of the sleeve has a relatively large bore 5| to support a Steinman pin while the other end is provided with a small bore to accommodate a 'Kirschner wire, the wire being stretched by a tractor such as is shown and described in 'my prior application, Serial Number 643,101 and bearing Patent No. 1,967,471 dated July 24, 1934.

It is, of course, to be understood that the Kirschner wire is retained in the tractor during adjustment of the splint to the injured limb and that the distance between the legs of the tractor is so arranged that the wire may slide through the members 22 during such adjustment thus permitting various angular positions of the wire. Also, when Steinman pins are used the sleeves 22 are so adjusted in the clamps that sliding movements of the pins may take place during the adjustment of the splint.

. By means of the adjustment of the telescopic tube traction may be exerted on a broken bone through spaced points of which has been passed a'pair of Steinman pins or Kirschner wires. Also the yokes may be angularly adjusted with respect to each other in a horizontal plane to obtain the correct lateral tractive direction and the pins or wires may be adjusted to suitable vertical angles to effect such rotative movement of one fragment ofthe broken bone to the other as willbring these fragments into normal relation.

Such procedure avoids all improper relation between the proximal and distal fragments of the broken bone so that a cast may be applied after which the splint may, if desired, be removed, the cast itself holding the sleeves 22 in proper position. a There has thus been provided a simple'and fefiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in -the form and-construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof., It-is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base having clamp means at the upper ends of its arms, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, and said bases being in the form of inverted channels and said shafts projecting downwardly into said channels,

an arm fixed to the lower end of each shaft and projecting along the channel, a yoke on the free end of each arm, a nut held in said yoke and having pin and slot connection therewith, and an adjusting screw journalled in the sides of the channel and screwed through said nut.

2. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base having clamp means at the upper ends, of its arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopic tubes, means to secure'the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, and said bases being in the form of inverted channels and said shafts projecting downwardly into said channels, an arm fixed to the lower end of each shaftand projecting along the channel, a yoke on the free end of each arm, a nut held in said yoke and having pin and slot connection therewith, and an adjusting screw journalled in the sides of the channel and screwed through said nut.

3. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yokeion each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members atthe upper ends ofsaid extension members, and means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms.

4.,In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollowarms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopictubes, and means to secure the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube. I

5. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand andcontract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of Vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members,

means to'cause protrusion and retractionof the extension members in their arms, verticalshafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, and: means to effect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes-and bases; j

6:; In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair. of

sition on its tube, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, and .meansto effect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes and bases.

7. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a'pair of telescopically nested tubes connectingsaid bases, means to expand and contract .the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each a base having clampmeans at the upper ends of nits arms, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, said bases being in the form of inverted channels and said shafts projecting downwardly into said channels, an arm fixed to the lower end of each shaft and projecting along the channel, a yoke on the free end of each arm, a nut held in said yoke and having pin and slot connection therewith, an adjusting screw journalled in the sides of the channel and screwed through said nut and horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said arms.

8. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, meansto expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base having clamp means at the upper ends of its arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopic tubes, means to secure the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, said bases being in the form of inverted channels and said shafts projecting downwardly into said channels, an arm fixed to the lower end of each shaft and projecting along the channel, a yoke on the free end of each arm, a nut held in said yoke and having pin and slot connection therewith, an adjusting screw journalled in the sides of the channel and screwed through said nut and horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said arms.

9. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, and horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members.

10. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, one of said bases .being'slidable along one of the telescopic :tubes,

means tosecure the last mentionedbase in=.adjusted position on its tube, and horizontallysarranged pivot means rotatably connectinglthe clamp meansto the upper ends of said: extension members.

11. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a'pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract thetelescopic tubes, an upstandingyoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said'extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the; extension members in their arms, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokesfixed thereto,=means to effect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes and bases, and horizontally arranged pivot means;

rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members.

12. In a fracture reduction apparatus-a .pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopic tubes, means to secure the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, means to effect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes and bases, and horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members.

13. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members, and a foot board swivelly mounted on one of said yokes.

14. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopic tubes, means to secure the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube, horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members, and a foot board swivelly mounted on one of said yokes.

15. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes connecting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, means to effect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes and bases, horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members, and a foot board swivelly mounted on one of said yokes.

16. In a fracture reduction apparatus, a pair of bases, a pair of telescopically nested tubes conmeeting said bases, means to expand and contract the telescopic tubes, an upstanding yoke on each base including a pair of vertically extending hollow arms and extension members telescopically mounted in said arms, clamp members at the upper ends of said extension members, means to cause protrusion and retraction of the extension members in their arms, one of said bases being slidable along one of the telescopic tubes, means to secure the last mentioned base in adjusted position on its tube, vertical shafts journaled in said bases and having the yokes fixed thereto, means to eifect rotation of said shafts whereby to vary the angular relation of the yokes and bases, horizontally arranged pivot means rotatably connecting the clamp means to the upper ends of said extension members, and a foot board swivelly I tively large bore at one end and a relatively small 20 bore at the other end forming a continuation of said large bore.

JOE J. ETTINGER. 

